The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley

Austentatious #2

by Lindz McLeod

Being snubbed by Mr Darcy—passed over for Elizabeth Bennet, no less—is humiliating.

Being told she’s arrogant and unkind, and that if she doesn’t mend her ways, she might never find love… that’s simply preposterous. Isn't it?

Feeling the sting of Darcy’s rejection, Caroline Bingley does what any self-respecting woman of means would do: she hatches a plan. Get Georgiana Darcy, the epitome of grace and sweetness, to teach Caroline how to be perfect like her.

But Caroline’s transformation from status-hungry socialite to proper marriage material won’t be easy. She must be charming, and even worse… she must be kind. And Georgiana herself isn’t so sure about playing fairy godmother. Beneath Miss Darcy's polished facade lies an entirely different set of struggles.

As the two grow closer, Caroline discovers she’s less interested in securing a man, and more intrigued by the woman helping her to reform her character. Before long, their lessons in finding love and acceptance blossom into something completely unexpected…

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley is a sapphic historical romance.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Historical Fiction, Queer, LGBT, Historical, Historical Romance

384 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Lindz McLeod is a queer, working-class, Scottish writer and editor who dabbles in the surreal. Her short prose has been published by Apex, Catapult, Pseudopod, DIVA, Nightmare, Best of British SF, and many more.
Her longer work includes the award-winning short story collection TURDUCKEN (Spaceboy, 2023), as well as novels THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET (Harlequin, 2025) and THE MISEDUCATION OF CAROLINE BINGLEY (Harlequin, 2026), the collaborative anthology AN HONOUR AND A PRIVILEGE (Stanchion, 2025), and more, including the forthcoming WE, THE DROWNING (Android Press, 2026). Her work has been taught in schools and universities, displayed in a museum, turned into avant-garde opera, and optioned for TV.
She is a full member of the SFWA, the former club president of the Edinburgh Writers' Club, and is in her third year of a PhD in Creative Writing. She lives in Edinburgh with her talented wife and their two extremely photogenic cats, Dane and Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Reviews

[Abbie Konnick]

3.5 🌟

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

caroline bingley learning her charge in life is to be the mean lesbian (and to love georgiana)

homage to the 1995 P&P lake scene, excellent boiled potatoes, and a love confession wentworth would be proud of!!

“and f*ck that guy” - darcy and caroline about wickham

Bookstagram | Blog

[K.J. Charles]

A sapphic historical based on Pride and Prejudice, starring Georgiana Darcy and Caroline Bingley. I come to this from having only the haziest recollection of either character, though I will note that the author has aged up Georgiana several years to make the ages OK for a modern reader.

This is a fun read told from Caroline's viewpoint: she starts off as highly snobbish and judgemental, decided she needs to learn to appear kind and pleasant, and ends up actually working on herself and becoming a better person. I do love a good redemption story and I particularly liked that actually a lot of her flaws are shown as good qualities once they're balanced and tempered (and that Georgiana isn't shown as being always right just because Caroline is frequently wrong). There's an enjoyable slow burn romance that heats up in a very satisfactory way, and I liked how they end up.

I didn't quite feel on board with the progress to the end when Caroline insists on coming out to her appalling vindictive mother, which just seemed a horrifically bad idea on any level. Or with Darcy 'testing' her to see if she was good enough for Georgiana, which...IDK, it left me thinking I'd never want to speak to the dickhead again. YMMV on both those things.

A bouncy, energetic feel-good take that's infinitely less mean-spirited than the source text and offers happiness to far more people. If you liked the terrific Mr Collins in Love you'll like this, and vice versa.

[lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved every single second of this. lindz mcleod is THE sapphic historical romance writer for me and her latest two have been absolute bangers. the way we get both mc’s full characterization in which we understand why they NEED to be together yet we know exactly what is pulling them apart- until it doesn’t 😌

caroline is a complete mess. i don’t remember her well from the original pride & prejudice but she was a menace in this book and seeing her not lose that brutal honesty but be able to reform it into something more warm and kind??? THANK YOU. women can be multifaceted and for the social norms of the time, she is allowed to stand out and i’m so glad she didn’t lose it (as well as the emphasis multiple times throughout the story georgiana affirms that she loved caroline BEFORE her major character development!)

georgiana!!!!! my repressed, thorny girl. caroline is exactly who she needed to push her outside of her shell and convince her that she can choose herself!! the will-we-or-won’t-we slow burn of it all was painful but by the time they get together it was insane (and steamy as well 🔥)

i need her next book immediately and i recommend for anyone looking for a f/f historical romance with characters who jump off the page and a gorgeous love story!

thank you to netgalley and harlequin for the arc!!

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Rounded Up

What a beautiful love story! I enjoyed following the progression of the two MC’s Caroline and Georgiana’s relationship. My heart strings got pulled a few times, with the intensity of feelings that hit me.

The characters were easily likable which tends to make a book MUCH easier to read. It’s always interesting reading a historical romance because the way they live and speak is SO different, you really get transported in time.

Around the middle of the book I did start to get bored. It felt as though we were stuck in place for a bit with no movement and I had a hard time pushing through it. Once I finally got back into it it was worth the read!

It was pretty predictable throughout, and unfortunately nothing stuck out to me to make this book different than the rest, but was still an overall good read.

I can also appreciate a book with incredible side characters. Such a plus!

Thank you NetGalley and Linz McLeod for the ARC!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great sapphic adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I love the character of Caroline Bingley so much (not that I would love her in real life, of course) and have read so many adaptations featuring her. I absolutely adored this one. I like the idea of Caroline trying to improve herself to find a good husband, since that would definitely not be out of the realm of possibility.

Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for their next sapphic read, especially those who love Jane Austen's books.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

[PlotTrysts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year's Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet was one of my top books of 2026, so I was highly anticipating this follow up. I was not disappointed! ⁠
⁠
You can't quite call these Austen variations or Austen sequels, although they are basically canon compliant. Instead, I like to think of them as Austen spinoffs in the way secondary sitcom characters sometimes go on to lead their own shows. Unlike (most of) those spinoffs, these are charming, fun, and really successful on their own.⁠
⁠
As for Miseducation, You might read that title and think, "Caroline Bingley? Really??" Yes, really. The book opens with Caroline staying with the Darcys and wondering why she, paragon among women, didn't cut it with Fitzwilliam. She is, in fact, so convinced of her superiority that she finally asks him why? Upon which everyone's favorite grump absolutely reads her for filth (he says she's cold, arrogant, and probably lacks the ability to love, which ... tracks for a man who had no problem telling the actual love of his life that her family is the absolute wooooorst). ⁠
⁠
Caroline then throws herself upon the mercy of Georgiana Darcy, the perfect gentlewoman, to get "nice girl" lessons. But as it turns out, Caroline never lacked the ability to love; she just wasn't trying to court the right Darcy sibling. ⁠
⁠
This is a redemption story for an Austen villain we love to hate. But when you look at Caroline closely, how villainous was she, really? She was just a Regency mean girl at heart. In Miseducation we live entirely in her head as she learns to be an agreeable companion, a charming conversationalist, and ultimately a romance heroine. (She never does learn to like reading novels, though.)⁠
⁠
This reads best if you're a P&P lover, although since it's a spinoff rather than a retelling it's not a requirement. It's absolutely a charming sapphic romance as well as an homage to Austen.⁠

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not have any sapphic romances with Georgianna Darcy as a main character on my BINGO card this year, but I've now read two? Wild!

I liked Lindz McLeod's first book in this series, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, well enough, and I can't pass up a sapphic Jane Austen retelling. But I can't say I was excited to read about Caroline Bingley. And Caroline Bingley with Georgianna Darcy? Um... Let's just say my expectations were low. And after a strong start, the book was uneven. I kept getting bored--tired of the way the relationship between the two was playing out. But I'm glad I persisted because it did get better. And even though I don't necessarily agree with the McLeod's interpretation of Georgianna (her history, her motivations, her callousness(?)), McLeod's narrative makes it make sense.

As much as I liked this, I didn't fully buy into the romance. I'm happy how it ended, of course, but something was missing for me. Maybe it was too removed from other Pride and Prejudice characters? Maybe because Miss Bingley is a hard character to reinvent? I don't know. But I did like it in the end, especially the last few chapters.

[r.j. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Harlequin & Carina Adores for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and unfortunately this one kind of let me down. All the different elements were good, and the premise was very promising, but at the halfway point things just… disconnect. The change that Caroline undergoes seems to happen overnight, with no shades of a changing worldview between one scene and the next. She’s selfish and egotistical and then suddenly… she isn’t. Similarly, she goes from not even understanding that being queer is something that’s even possible to telling someone else that there’s plenty of people like them. In one scene, she talks like someone educated in modern queer theory. Again, despite days earlier not even knowing it was possible.

I really liked the friendship between Caroline and Georgie and the budding romance; I really liked both the first and second halves of the book. The problem was that they didn’t feel as if they fit together. When viewed individually, each would be five stars, and when viewed as a whole… I could only give it three, because it felt like two novellas stitched together.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say this, because I’m not sure where else to, this was weirdly patriarchal. Hymens can break outside of sex, nor should they be the height of a romance. I feel especially strongly about this because this is a sapphic romance. Having such emphasis on breaking a hymen feels weirdly patriarchal and heterosexual, as if one of the characters were just genderswapped to make this gay to fulfil a genre need than the author really wanting to write about sapphics. I feel especially strongly about this, again, because I am a lesbian and do not want to read about how significant and important a hymen is.

Maybe that’s just a raging feminist lesbian take but the sex scenes and emphasis on Caroline “hunting” and “trapping” Georgianna made me especially uncomfortable. This didn’t feel romantic, not was I really rooting for any of the characters. It’s not as if Caroline and Georgiana are the actual characters from the original novel, either. I was flabbergasted from Georgiana’s strength and was deeply uncomfortable with Caroline’s characterization here.

Maybe the author’s novels aren’t for me, because I also had characterization problems with her first novel. I won’t be requesting the rest of the author’s novels in the future, which is a shame, because I really want to read any sapphic adaptations of Jane Austen’s works I can get my hands on. I’ll recommend her novels on the tail ends of others, as an aside, but there are stronger sapphic adaptations out there, and I just can’t in good faith wrap my arms around this book for my patrons.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a load of fun! Fans of FF romance and Pride and Prejudice will enjoy Lindz McLeod's The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley.

I always enjoy tales about secondary characters and McLeod does a good job with this one. Beyond the story of Caroline and Georgiana's romance, the exploration of how Caroline has been raised to be such a mean, petty, judgemental, elitist witch with a "B" is so well done! Damn, how anyone could ever be this stuck up is amazing.

The audio version of The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley is nicely performed by Clare Corbett.

an audiobook copy of The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley was provided by Harlequin Audio, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Lindz's first Austen retelling, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, as an Austen & nineteenth century literature scholar (and nerd), especially as I'm such a fan of Mary Bennet, and I wasn't sure if anything was going to top the first book for me. Austen sequels can often feel cringy, or just repetitive with a focus on Darcy and Lizzie's happy ever after. These sapphic P&P sequels are a breath of fresh air, delightfully queer and just a joy to read (with some proper swoony romance!!)

I do absolutely adore Georgiana's character in P&P and wish she featured more in adaptations etc, so I was very excited to see that her and Caroline Bingley were the stars of this one! Caroline isn't a favourite of mine, but I really warmed to her whilst I was reading as she underwent her personal growth.

Though this didn't top book one for me, it certainly came a very close second and I really enjoyed reading about the Caroline and Georgiana. I like that Georgiana's past with Wickham wasn't completely ignored or written out (bisexual Georgiana? Yes please!!), although I'm very anti Wickham (likely because of how he features in my PhD!) Still, I liked this alternative take.

The cameos from Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley were especially fun to me (Charles' letter especially). On my recent visit to Chawton during a research fellowship, I got to see a photo of Darcy and Bingley's 1995 adaptation actors larking around in their costumes so I had that image of the two in my head whilst I was reading.

What must be the most special part of this book, however, is Edward the horse. Lindz asked for name suggestions on a bluesky post and I suggested Edward, my late granddad who was my best friend and my biggest academic supporter. The most reliable man I've ever met, calm and strong. I will admit a shed a little tear seeing Edward the horse come to life in this book 🥹 this turned to a full on cheesy smile at the end of the book, seeing what such kind words Lindz had for my and (my) Edward.

Thank you to Lindz and netgalley for an e book ARC, I was overjoyed to get my hands on an early copy (sorry I couldn't wait for UK release 🤣) I'd love to see Mary Crawford or Eleanor Tilney get the same gorgeous treatment 💖👀

[Joey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing puts you into a reading slump quite like a deeply disappointing anticipated read... I would DNF this book so hard if it weren't for my love for the first book. I want to like it so bad but this is not doing it for me at all. It's unromantic, insta lust, and quite boring/repetitive.

The author spent the first half of the book trying to convince the reader that caroline bingley is a worthy love interest (but also it's clear that she didn't want to deviate too much from the canon so caroline has to be mean and irritating as well. which makes it all the more jarring), and the second half of the book trying to convince gorgiana that caroline is worthy lover. So many pages spent on that thus resulting in not enough time on what actually matters for a romance: the gradual falling in love, the romantic scenes, the careful resolving of both characters' personal issues etc.
The romantic pacing suffered heavily for this reason. Nothing reads as puzzle pieces fall into places, but rather like boxes being checked off the list. We don't have time for subtlety, so the first time caroline saw gorgiana semi-naked, she immediately lusted for her and that must be love, despite the fact that we never knew her even like women, or saw gorgiana the little sister of her friend as a sexual figure. And somehow gorgiana secretly likes her as well despite the fact that she clearly didn't like caroline's personality or even her as a person. We don't even have time to unpack traumas so we'll just had caroline told the readers yeah my mom's mean and controlling to me so I behave in that way.

Also like why do we have to have so many sex scenes. Like obviously I don't oppose to sapphic books being spicy but having caroline being such a horn dog that wants to get into gorgiana's pants every five seconds is not going to help convince anyone that she's a trustworthy lover unlike wickham... And the "hunt" for gorgiana is really inappropriate especially if you consider gorgiana's backstory. She's also kinda love bombing her ngl. I feel like it would be better if it were vice versa like gorgiana pursuing caroline. In that way gorgiana would have more agency and caroline would feel wanted and loved by her showing her love. idk
I'll admit that there're some romantic scenes in the book I find pretty cute, like I suddenly remembered why I loved the first one so much. So the author clearly got it. Such a shame this book can't be filled with those moments.

Historical romance has been nothing but flop for me this year what's going on I'm begginggggggg...!

[Ashley Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin - Romance for providing a digital copy to review*

I just love any kind of Pride & Prejudice adaptation, especially one with a sapphic twist.

The story is told from the perspective of one Caroline Bingley. In the original story, she’s portrayed as an antagonist, but you can’t help but love her in this book. Yes, she’s a bit self-centred, shares her thoughts unfiltered, and has a very high opinion of herself, but all these things just make her an enjoyable character.

Her character arc is amazing and is driven by her relationship with Georgiana Darcy, who is aged up for this story. I loved watching their relationship go from friendship to something more, and I greatly enjoyed their banter. Georgie isn’t afraid to challenge Caroline, and I just love the two of them.

I also enjoyed all the side characters and how their relationship with Caroline also changes as she starts to be more considerate of those around her and unlearns the lessons her mother taught her.

It’s just a sweet and cosy romance that reminds you how special Jane Austen’s characters are.

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a bookclub, and I would give it a solid 3.5 stars. The author mimics Austen’s style well, if with significantly less sharpness (admittedly, it is hard to truly capture the acidity of Austen, and most adaptations lean harder on the romantic elements than she ever did). Both Caroline Bingley and Georgiana Darcy are developed into full fledged characters with flaws and appealing qualities — even Caroline, who starts the story pretty much insufferable. Also yay, sapphic Regency romance! The problem is that the stakes never feel very high, despite the fact that they would have been, and the “education” premise felt contrived even by romance trope standards. Still, I will check out the other book in this series, because the author is both skilled and witty, and the world needs more good sapphic historicals.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the gifted audiobook.

Jane Austen but make it sapphic! Georgiana Darcy and Caroline Bingley fall in love while trying to find Caroline a husband and omg I couldn't get enough of this book.

The yearning was top notch, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. There's something so sensual about Regency-era yearning, the secretive brief touches or glances that really elevate the pining and even more so in this book between two women. I also loved the parallels to Orpheus & Eurydice's story.

The characters were wonderful. Not just Georgiana and Caroline, but I loved the way Lindz McLeod wrote the men too. Charles Bingley and Mr. Darcy were two of my favorite side characters, who you mostly meet through letters to their sisters. I adored their love and care for their sisters.

I can't wait to read more of Lindz McLeod's queer Regency books!

The audiobook was delightful. The narrator did fantastic character voices that made me giggle and were perfectly suited to the Regency era.

[Anna Kļaviņa]

DNF @ 51%

I feel entirely justified in judging the book by its cover. The cover is hideous, and the book is only slightly better. There’s no wit, no comedy of manners... I don’t even want to be the too harsh as it isn’t the worst fanfic / retelling I’ve read. But I was deeply unimpressed from the start. Imagine Miss Darcy sitting there reading while ignoring a bored guest (Miss Bingley). That would be rude in 2026, never mind in the period it’s meant to be set. I should have stopped reading at that point.

[Leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Format: 📖 ARC

This was a charming regency romance with a queer love story at its heart! From frankly disliking Caroline Bingley in P&P (Books and 1995 adaptation) it was wonderful to fall in love with her here - though she doesn’t make it easy. Georgina is delightful as expected but it was great to get to know more about her and see her less people-pleasing side.

This was a fun and easy read where we get to see Caroline challenge herself to be better so she can find a husband and along the way she sure finds something else. Her jounrey is not smooth but her growth is believeables and I love her writing to herself. Noticing the good in the world is always worthwhile.

The side characters are well thought out and added to the story plus it was special to get a peak of old favourites from P&P!

I now need to read the other books in the Austentatious series.

Thank you to the author, to the publisher, Harlequin - Romance - Carina Adores, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Rachel Harp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needed dual pov but did like better than book 1!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ Need recommendations for another book like this!

I had this on audible and couldn’t stop listening, an amazing storyline with two great FMC’s. Loved how it was written.

[Rich R · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I read in the last couple of years was Lindz McLeod’s The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet. It was such a brilliant combination of channeling Austen’s sparkling prose, and remaining true to characters created by Jane Austen while expanding their stories in a convincing yet modern fashion, that I was thoroughly captivated by the book. When I heard McLeod was working on another book in the same world, I felt a little trepidation; could she pull off the trick as sumptuously a second time?

Unlikely Pursuit focused on the growing relationship between the widowed Charlotte Lucas, the wallflower who married the odious Mr. Collins in Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, and Mary Bennet, one of Elizabeth Bennet’s less-memorable younger sisters. The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley explores the friendship of Caroline Bingley, the unsympathetic sister of the OG nice-guy Charles Bingley who married Jane Bennet, and Georgiana Darcy, the apparently sheltered younger sister of the prideful Mr. Darcy. If you’ve seen even the worst TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, you’ll be familiar enough with the source material to have preconceived opinions about the protagonists of each book, and therein lay my initial problem with Miseducation.

Charlotte Lucas is inherently sympathetic in both the original novel and every screen adaptation. She’s the best friend, the good girl, the mousey wallflower who jumped at Mr. Collins’ proposal because she had no expectation of ever receiving another. She was conditioned to see herself as lesser than, and watching her, over the course of Unlikely Pursuit, transform into seeing herself as someone who is allowed to desire and be desired was an absolute joy. As the protagonist of The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley, Caroline Bingley starts out with a lot of negative baggage. She’s the villain of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet’s snobbish rival, and an obstacle to the marriage prospects of Jane Bennet as well. She starts Miseducation as she finished Pride and Prejudice, judging others harshly and generally being a complete bitch. When Darcy finally sits her down and growls some home truths that she wasn’t prepared to hear, the audience is satisfied that the villain got her comeuppance! It’s not the opening I expected, nor the heroine I expected to be rooting for — but Lindz McLeod works her magic and makes the biggest bitch of the Jane Austen cinematic universe relatable.

Miseducation begins shortly after P&P ends. Darcy & Lizzy are married, and Caroline is spending time at Netherfield, Darcy’s palatial family home, visiting with her friend Georgianna while the newly-wed Darcy’s are off on some sort of post-honeymoon lengthly visit with Mr & Mrs Charles Bingley. After Caroline’s ego-bruising encounter with Darcy, she prevails on her friend Georgiana to help her become a better person in order to help her find a husband, because (and here’s where McLeod finds a way to make Caroline sympathetic) it finally occurs to her that marriage is the only way to avoid returning home to her odious, manipulative mother. So, we embark on some early chapters of Caroline attempting to follow Georgiana’s well-intentioned advice, and Georgiana presenting Caroline with opportunities to treat people with curiosity and kindness instead of judgement. As you would expect, Caroline initially fails the tests humorously and gradually starts to do better. Shock! Horror!; there might actually be a decent human being inside that cold, snobbish exterior.

As Caroline starts to ask herself what she actually wants in a husband, what she might be attracted to, she begins to feel it’s personality traits, rather than physical attributes, that she actually admires, and she begins to realize that clever, sensitive, artistic Georgiana embodies those values more than any man she’s ever met. In fact, now that she’s finally started to think about what she wants — rather than what society dictates that she should want — she realizes that the only time she’s felt the fission of attraction or raw desire, was for other women.

So, around the halfway stage of the novel, she realizes that she’s lusting after Georgiana — who, if you remember the source material, is a little more experienced in affairs of the heart, having had a teenage fling with the rogue Johnny Wickham — and the question is, does Georgiana share her feelings, and if so, will she act on them?

But, that would be telling! Suffice to say, that despite some reservations about being asked to root for the villain of Pride & Prejudice, I was quickly won over by Miseducation, and stayed up stupid late reading it for a couple of nights. As with Unlikely Pursuit, the writing is pitch-perfect throughout. Witty, carefree, and very Austentatious! Lindz McLeod has crafted a style that evokes Austen’s precise and incisive sentences, while also remaining light and fluid to more modern ears. Once again, I was completely won over by these two characters fighting to be together despite the pressure of society to conform — which is something that anyone should be able to relate to.

Lindz McLeod has written another unputdownable page turner about two people who are prefect for each other wrestling with the insidious expectations of society and trying to find an unlikely path to love and fulfillment. The quality of the writing is head and shoulders above what snobbish critics expect from genre books, and if there was any justice in the world Lindz McLeod would have a massive readership swooning at her every turn of phase.

Whether you are a die-hard romance reader or part of the LGBT community or none of the above, I defy you not to enjoy these two novels. Whether on the level of exquisite language, a well-told story, or vivid characterizations, Lindz McLeod’s Austentatious novels are probably the best books you’ll read all year. Someone please adapt both of these for TV, and I fervently hope there is a third Austentatious book on the horizon!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to re-read Pride and Prejudice with new eyes.

This review originally appeared at https://wordhoarder.wordpress.com/202...

[Unpopmary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

I ended up liking this book overall, just not quite as much as I originally thought I would. And in full honesty, I haven’t read any of Jane Austen’s original works (which I know is practically scandalous), mostly because I’m not usually drawn to stories centered on straight couples. So my understanding of her world comes mainly from retellings, which makes it a bit harder for me to judge how faithful these characterizations are. That said, I can definitely see how readers more familiar with Austen might get even more out of this.

What really worked for me here were the characters, especially Caroline. The story follows her decision to change after Mr. Darcy essentially tells her she needs to improve her character if she wants to be taken seriously. So she turns to Georgiana for help in becoming a better person, hoping to present herself as more “marriageable.” But in the process, she starts to change in ways she didn’t expect, including her growing, persistent thoughts about Georgiana, which start to blur the line between friendship and something deeper… something closer to love.

I was especially curious about how Caroline’s transformation would unfold. She initially comes across as quite set in her ways, arrogant, sometimes shallow, and very much embodying the “mean girl” archetype. So I found it hard to imagine her evolving beyond that. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised by how subtle and gradual her growth felt. It never seemed forced or abrupt. Instead, it unfolded naturally, allowing her to become a better version of herself without losing the essence of who she is. She still retains the core traits that define her, which made her development feel authentic rather than like a complete personality shift.

Her emotional growth ended up being my favorite aspect of the book. From the beginning, she struck me as a character with a lot of potential, someone perhaps misunderstood. Maybe I’m reading a bit deeply into it, but I saw her behavior as shaped largely by her upbringing and by following her mother’s example rather than forming her own identity. Watching her slowly unpack those ingrained beliefs and become more aware of how her actions affect others was genuinely compelling. The diary entries especially made that introspection feel more grounded and helped me connect with her on a deeper level.

Georgiana, on the other hand, was a bit more complicated for me. From the beginning, it’s clear the story centers more on Caroline’s journey, but I wasn’t expecting Georgiana’s development to feel somewhat secondary. Still, I liked what the story was trying to do with her, showing that she’s more than just the “perfect lady” archetype, and I did enjoy seeing glimpses of her more authentic self. But I also felt like her development took a bit of a backseat as the romance became more central, which made some of her later choices feel less convincing to me.

As for the romance, I liked the idea of it more than the execution at times. The slow burn worked well at the beginning. Their connection felt natural, and I liked how it grew alongside Caroline’s personal journey. But midway through, it started to feel like the emotional development was being overshadowed by a stronger emphasis on physical intimacy. It gave me the sense that while they were moving forward as a couple, they were also losing some of the emotional momentum they had built.

The angst, in particular, leaned heavily on miscommunication (often from Georgiana) rather than external pressures that could have naturally challenged their relationship. While it makes sense given the historical context that their relationship would carry risks to their reputations and families, I was a bit surprised by how that conflict played out, especially considering Georgiana’s earlier characterization. At times, her reactions felt slightly at odds with the growth we had seen before. However, I can understand the intention behind the conflict, even if it didn’t fully work for me.

I think what held me back the most, though, was the writing style. It leans heavily into a very witty, exaggerated internal monologue, which I can see being appealing, but for me it sometimes felt a bit too performative rather than genuinely funny. The prose is also quite stylized, which made it read as more crafted than natural at times, and that occasionally pulled me out of the story. I also think this contributed to some uneven pacing, as the narrative spends a significant amount of time in Caroline’s inner thoughts. While this adds depth to her character, it sometimes slowed the momentum and made certain sections feel repetitive.

Even so, I had a genuinely good time reading this. It may not have become a new favorite, but I can easily see it shining for the right reader, especially if you love character-driven stories with a strong narrative voice and a soft, slow-burn sapphic historical romance that quietly builds its way into your heart.

Huge thank you to the author for sending this my way.

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley (Austentatious, Book 2 — Harlequin) by Lindz McLeod.

After the sheer delight of The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, I wasn't sure the second book in Lindz McLeod's Austentatious series could top it. Reader, it might just have done.

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley picks up almost immediately after the close of Pride and Prejudice, and it opens with a sting: Caroline Bingley has been snubbed by Mr. Darcy, passed over in favour of Elizabeth Bennet of all people, and to add insult to injury, Darcy has helpfully provided her with an itemised list of her shortcomings — arrogant, unkind, and suffering from a considerable superiority complex. Rather than crumble, Caroline does what any self-respecting woman of means would do: she hatches a plan. She will ask Georgiana Darcy, the very picture of grace and sweetness, to help her reform. If Darcy wants perfect, she will become perfect. What Caroline doesn't anticipate is that spending time with Georgiana will make her question everything she thought she wanted — including the husband she's been so single-mindedly chasing. Beneath Georgiana's polished exterior lie struggles of her own, and as the two women grow closer, what begins as a project in self-improvement quietly blooms into something neither of them had planned for.

It's a wonderful premise, and McLeod handles it beautifully. Giving Caroline Bingley — one of Austen's most deliciously arch characters — a genuine inner life and a real redemption arc is no small feat, but McLeod pulls it off with warmth, wit, and just the right amount of sharp comedy. Caroline's attempts at being kinder are often hilariously disastrous (she manages to terrify a housekeeper simply by saying good morning), but the growth feels earned rather than rushed. And the dynamic between Caroline and Georgiana is where the book really sings — two women shaped entirely by what society expected of them, slowly finding the courage to imagine something different.

One of my absolute favourite running jokes involves the medical wisdom imparted by Caroline's cold and utterly humourless mother, who warned her daughter that a lady who sighs too much and too deeply risks developing "sad lung." Georgiana's reaction to this piece of advice is priceless, and from that moment on it becomes a gloriously absurd thread running through the whole book — sad eyes from too much crying, sad heart, even sad womb. McLeod deploys it with perfect comic timing, and I was cracking up every single time it resurfaced. It's the kind of joke that only gets funnier the more seriously the characters treat it.

McLeod's feel for the Regency world continues to impress. She captures the tone and cadence of the era without making it feel like a museum piece, and her love of Austen's characters shines through on every page.

I was particularly delighted to learn that McLeod dedicated the book in part to Anna Chancellor, whose portrayal of Caroline Bingley in the 1995 BBC miniseries was her inspiration. The 1995 adaptation is my absolute favourite version of Pride and Prejudice — and now I have every excuse to watch it again. What makes the tribute even more lovely is that Anna Chancellor is actually a direct descendant of Jane Austen's elder brother, Edward — a fact that feels almost too perfect to be real.

Lindz McLeod is a queer, working-class Scottish writer and poet who dabbles in the surreal. Her short prose has appeared in publications like Apex and Catapult, and her longer work spans short story collections, novellas, and novels across multiple genres. She is a full member of the SFWA, president of the Edinburgh Writers' Club, and is currently studying for a PhD in Creative Writing. She lives in Edinburgh with her fiancée and their two internet-famous cats, Fitzwilliam and Dane. It's safe to say she was born to write sapphic Austen retellings, and the Austentatious series is proof of that. I can only hope there are many more to come — this series has become thoroughly addictive, and I am not ready to leave this world just yet.

5 Stars

[The Sapphic Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC ***

I love Pride and Prejudice, so the premise of a sapphic romance between two of the side characters had me immediately interested. For context, this is the second book in a series, but I haven't read the first book. It doesn't seem like you need to have read the first book to read this one, either, as it's a totally separate sapphic love story also about Pride and Prejudice side characters.

Right from the start, Caroline and Georgiana's personalities leap off the page. From their interaction in the library, you know exactly who these women are, how different they are from each other, and understand their dynamic. Georgiana may be 3 years younger, but she's self-possessed and well-loved. She keeps her truest thoughts and feelings to herself in favour of showing herself to be exactly what everyone expects of her. Caroline, on the other hand, is honest to a fault, restless to prove she's worthy of her social status, and can be hypercritical as a result. They bicker and banter, and it's all so very sharp and Austen-esque that it's easy to fit this story into the Pride and Prejudice world.

It's one thing to find Caroline endearing because she's so blunt and unintentionally rude (I do!), but how she responds to the letter from her mother about the trip they didn't invite her on adds so much depth and understanding as to why Caroline can be so emotionally detached and critical. As someone who was also not the favourite child and was raised by parents concerned with outside appearances, I relate hard to her. Throughout the book, we get similar glimpses into what Caroline's family life is like, and she feels so real. Her experiences have affected her and turned her into the person she is. Little things, like the way any wear on furniture is quickly replaced in her own home, speak to why she's simultaneously critical of similar wear in other homes and also longs to have physical evidence of memories. Caroline is straightforward and exactly who she says she is, for better or worse. She's the perfect example of a person I wouldn't get along with in real life (at least at the start), but I absolutely adore in this book.

Throughout their time together, Caroline and Georgiana notice things about each other beyond what most people see (or want to see). And as their bond deepens, they start to realize just how much the other has been paying attention to their likes, dislikes, and the truths they've been hiding to suit the expectations of others. When the flirting actually starts, it's just as scintillating as the rest of their verbal sparring and thrice as satisfying. They're equals in every way, and it's a pleasure to read. Caroline gradually shifts her perspective on the world and on other people, and it's a natural progression of the time she's been spending with Georgiana, having her own beliefs and practices challenged. Her journey is about getting in touch with her emotions and empathy, wanting to be the best version of herself (even if it starts off for three wrong reasons).

On the other hand, Georgiana's journey is about struggling with the weight of societal expectations, of everyone's perception of her as perfect, and learning when it's safe to be her true self with the people she trusts. Contrary to Caroline, who says what she's thinking without hesitation, Georgiana learns to be more open and honest. Caroline learns to be more conscientious and tactful, and Georgiana learns to let go and be herself.

This is one of my favourite romances I've read! The characters are authentic, memorable, and lovable with their distinct personalities and flaws. All of it feels very Jane Austen, down to the main character matchmaking on the side. The romance is well-earned, with clever, snappy dialogue between two equals. The relationship evolves naturally from Caroline and Georgiana balancing each other out. I honestly can't think of any issues I have with it. I'm utterly enchanted. I have to read more from this author!

[Holly_bookbanter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. This is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This is my first book by this author but I am a seasoned reader of lgbtq+ stories (particularly sapphic romance), and historical romance/fiction. I have also read and watched Pride & Prejudice so these characters are familiar to me.

Overall Thoughts:
This book is just perfection. I love these characters and seeing them on page again makes me giddy. They were true to the personalities created by Austen over 200 years ago and I loved the ever insufferable Caroline!

Spice Level:
This is a low spice sapphic romance. There are several scenes of romantic interludes but they are not excessively graphic or vulgar in any way and suit the style of the book well.

Characters:
With a book that utilizes well known and beloved characters it can be hard to assume their personality and translate it to page but McLeod has done an excellent job of maintaining their core traits while integrating the sapphic aspects of the story into them.

Caroline is as ever vain, judgmental, stubborn, and condescending…and I love it! She is such a fun character to poke at and I loved seeing her scoff at the idea of being nice and less honest. She had so much growth and watching her not just learn to be a better person but actively help others was lovely.

Georgianna with her sweet disposition, proper etiquette, and overt kindness was well written as someone who struggles to not do what others ask or expect or her despite her own feelings. Her warmth towards people of all rank and backgrounds showed how she was the perfect choice to tutor dear Caroline.

There were several enjoyable side characters as well, some from the Austen world, and some new.

Romance and Chemistry:
Their chemistry was so good! There was yearning, tension, and passion as their story progresses. With the added obstacle of their love being extremely forbidden, not just in general but for their station, their stolen moments were precious.

Writing Style and Pacing:
This is written in the Austen style but less heavy so it is more accessible to today’s readers. As someone who studied English literature I loved how it mimicked the style while still feeling like a modern story. There were a few spots that felt a tad slow but overall pacing was good with new plot points added at comfortable intervals.

Setting and Vibes:
This is set in early 19th century England with much of it at Pemberly, the Darcy’s residence. The description of the home and surrounding areas as well as events was comprehensive.

Content and Triggers:
Emotional Abuse
Classism
Sexism
Adult/minor relationship
Sapphic sexual content

Final thoughts:
I absolutely adored this book. It combined two of my favorite things: regency era historical romance, and lgbtq+ stories. The characters were so well done and were true to their origins. They both had great growth arcs and the story was an interesting and refreshing concept. I will happily read more of this author’s work!

Ratings:
4.25/5
1.5/5 spice

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear with me while I start this review on a tangent: in 2008, Lost in Austen aired in the UK. It’s a TV show about a modern-day Jane Austen fan who accidentally swaps places with Elizabeth Bennet. It’s great fun, and one of the reveals in that show, is that Caroline Bingley is secretly a lesbian, who is only looking to marry for status and wealth. Ever since then I have honestly taken this as canon, and it’s basically the only reading of Caroline Bingley that makes sense, if you ask me.

Onwards! I loved The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, which came out last year, and even just the title of this new release was enough to get me hooked, before I realised it’s the same author, and then I got even more excited! This is the sapphic Caroline Bingley story that I’ve been anticipating for nearly 20 years.

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I will admit, I wasn’t convinced when I saw that Caroline’s love interest was Georgiana Darcy. I also wasn’t convinced at the start of the book, when the author’s note explained that Georgiana had been aged up slightly, to bring her closer in age to Caroline. I wasn’t sure at first why this was necessary; why couldn’t the whole book be set a few years later, once Georgiana was older? As I started to read though, it made perfect sense, and helped create the story McLeod wanted to tell.

The book picks up almost immediately after P&P, with Caroline reeling from her perceived rejection by Mr Darcy. She doesn’t understand why she has so far been unable to make a match with anyone, especially Mr Darcy, and turns to Georgiana to help her understand why.

Georgiana, on the other hand, is determined to be seen as something more than an innocent young girl, which is how her brother and those around her perceive her. She wants to be understood for who she really is, which is someone with layers and flaws just like anyone else. While she helps Caroline become a better version of herself, she also comes out of her own shell a bit more. I also felt like maybe both Caroline and Georgiana were coded as neurodivergent? I definitely got that impression, but I may be wrong.

What I really appreciated about both books from the series so far, is the balance of new and familiar characters. Although the leads and, by definition, some of their friends and family are all Austen characters, McLeod expands these characters’ social circles, bringing in new characters who help add a new perspective. I thought the balance was just right, keeping us firmly in Austenland, without feeling too insular.

This is another excellent release from Lindz McLeod, and a must-read for any and every sapphic Jane Austen fan!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Stephanie Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

**My thanks to Harlequin Romance for providing me with an advanced review copy via NetGalley**

4.5 stars

This was so much fun. Caroline Bingley is a delightfully snotty presence in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and this book gives her the space to stretch out. It also manages to make me believe in a Pygmalion-esque ‘change myself’ arc, which so often is done clumsily with a character either performing a neat 180 in a few scenes or having been a misunderstood sweetheart all along; instead Caroline must put in the work to start viewing the world around her differently to how she had always been strictly raised to do so, and faces quite a few awkward, even painful, stumbling blocks in doing so.

The romance between Caroline and Georgiana is done quite well; the two women have equally believable and compelling romantic as well as sexual chemistry, and the slow-burn evolution of their relationship is deliciously enjoyable to watch. At times the plot does require Caroline to be rather stupid about realizing her own feelings, but in the romance context this can be somewhat excused by the sexual mores of the time and her lack of any real vocabulary to express same-sex attraction. However, she is also sometimes similarly slow in non-romantic contexts to realize what she says versus what she thinks, and how others are likely to perceive her barbed ‘observations.’ Caroline has some wonderfully cruel zingers, which remind me a great deal of Jane Austen’s own ungenerous observations of social life in her private letters; a part of me wishes that McLeod had leaned into Caroline being aware that her ‘honest opinions’ are carefully phrased to be cutting and unkind, rather than seeming not to realize that how she phrases her criticisms is a major part of the problem, especially since in Jane Austen’s case the careful construction of the cutting remarks is such a skillful example of her craft.

Mr. Darcy I think also suffers a little in his characterization, perhaps because he gets so little screentime and primarily functions as a potential obstacle for Caroline and Georgiana’s relationship; he comes off much more sketched-in than the other characters.

Some secondary characters of the author’s own invention provide good autism representation and more varied social and financial classes than is usual in contemporary Regency romance, and they’re a highlight of the novel. However, the characters Caroline encounters and befriends are almost uniformly liberal-minded and open to same-sex relationships regardless of their own inclinations, as well as surprisingly well-informed and -spoken on the subject, which felt a little too convenient but did keep the mood up.

I would highly recommend this title to anyone looking for a good, well-paced Regency-era sapphic romance, and to fans of Pride and Prejudice who wish the wonderfully sassy Caroline Bingley could have had more time on the page.

[Erin Hawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley was a lot of fun! Caroline and Georgiana are a very amusing couple who balance and challenge each other well.

Miss Caroline Bingley is our protagonist, point of view, and foil to the lovely Miss Georgiana Darcy. Maybe I only made this connection because I am currently rewatching Schitt's Creek, but Caroline was such a Moira Rose to me in the best way. Caroline is enormously self-assured, obsessed with herself, and prone to impressively erudite vocabulary to express her feelings. (Never have I read the words peroration or dubiety, and yet Caroline artfully wielded them as if regular fare.) I really enjoyed Caroline's personal growth arc and that she is so herself to the end, just a little more self-aware and kinder. Georgiana was not as well characterized as Caroline, but she wasn't the main character and I still felt plenty endeared to her. McLeod did a good job making Georgiana her brother's sister while distinctly her own. The relationship between Caroline and Georgiana is a nice blend of yearning, companionship, and attraction. I appreciated that they developed a friendship first, and Caroline's queer self-discovery was handled well and quite lovely. I also enjoyed the supporting characters and all of the love matches going on around the main couple.

The first half of the book is really snappy and engrossing, but the second half loses steam a bit. I always worry while reading queer historical romance how and if the couple is going to have their happy ending, and McLeod drew this tension out a little longer than was necessary or entertaining. I also did not love the importance placed on virginity and maidenhead (a very heteronormative construct to place on a queer couple), but I will allow that this is perhaps to reflect the attitudes of the time. There is also a recurring metaphor of predator and prey which I think was a somewhat clumsy way to depict Caroline being ruthless in what she wanted in life, especially when it comes to her romantic happiness.

There is some period-typical homophobia but it is very limited. I gave the first in the series, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, four stars, and I think I like this one more than the first. I do hope there are more books in this series and will most definitely read the next (and anything more from Lindz McLeod)! If you like your historical romance protagonists a little snobby, very audacious, and willing to eat a little humble pie, I think you'll enjoy this book. There are also delightful nods to Pride and Prejudice movies to entertain every Austen fan.

Thank you, Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores, for the arc!

[Emmaline Savidge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Lindz first book following the romance between Mary and Charlotte much stronger than this one. Don't get me wrong there's still some great stuff here that will make for a cute read. I really enjoyed Caroline as a protagonist, she kinda sucks in the best way. She's unafraid to speak her mind even when it's unkind and she's adept at social manipulation. Watching her progression to being more self aware and kind was very compelling. The romance between Caroline and Darcy was also very sweet and fun to read.

My issues with the book really became obvious when the conflict keeping our couple apart started. It felt strange that Georgiana was the one more fixated on reputation and the necessity of Caroline marrying a man. The whole set up that makes them grow closer is Caroline asking Georgie to make her kinder so she can get a good husband. We keep seeing letters from Mrs. Bingley which explicitly pressure Caroline to find a suitor. The Bingleys do not have the same money or status as the Darceys, meaning that Caroline either needs to marry or rely on the charity of her brother. It just felt like Caroline should be the one fixated on the societal barriers to their relationship. I also feel like there was a real missed opportunity with not having Mrs. Bingley play a larger role in the conflict. She could have been staying at the manor with the girls, getting in the way of their relationship and hunting for suitors. Then she would act as an avatar of the unaccepting society that the girls are trapped within. My issue with the lack of role for Mrs. Bingley plays into one of my major gripes, which is how empty this world feels. Where are the reoccurring side characters at? The majority of this book is just Caroline and Georgie sitting in an empty house with two named servants. It leads to story that feels repetitive and lacking in a B plot. There's the whole thing with Caroline playing matchmaker, but that barely feels like a D plot. I think that could and should have been a bigger facet of the story. The romance between two normal people could have spurred Caroline to chose love over the money and the status that marriage could give her.

Overall, this book is cute enough but just didn't nail it. It's still a fun read and I'd recommend giving it a shot especially if you liked the first book in the series.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The miseducation of Caroline Bingley, is a spin off tale linked to the classic Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice. Here we follow the opinionated, vain and snobbish Caroline Bingley after her failed attempt to catch Mr Darcy, we are back at Pemberley as a guest of the Darcy’s. Caroline is needing closure as to
Why Mr Darcy didn’t choose her, if you have read the novel
Mr Darcy does not mince words and Caroline takes the feedback obviously quite poorly. She decides she needs the help of Georgiana to help her be a better person as if not how will she ever meet a suitable husband!

For the purposes of this novel Georgiana is aged up to 20 (rather than being 16) and Caroline is 23, Georgiana as her friend agrees to help her and her great pursuit of betterment, hard work and a pursed lipped Georgiana follows until Caroline starts to question is the person she desires much closer than she thought. Plus a lake scene will always help!

This is a fun, engaging romance honestly having Caroline question her sexuality, love and desire is quite spot on. The background to flesh out her family is also a good update. She’s not portrayed as a villain in the original material but love is not a concept of regency times. There are also many a nod to the 1995 TV adaptation (the best version in my opinion!). The gentle realisation of her attraction and her boldness is actually refreshing. She is no Elizabeth Bennett and I loved this, Georgiana is a typical Darcy, brooding but gentler than her brother but again good to see her fleshed out into her own person with wants and passions.

It is spicy but not explicit, there is yearning and want throughout plus links back to duty and what is appropriate for the time period. Reading this I would have liked a Georgiana POV to understand her personal struggle and longing, also with the Wickham scandal was when she was 15 I am unsure if she was this age in this book and honestly I could have done without the maidenhood description and Georgiana had quite a knowledge of bedroom activities, I wonder had this come from Wickham or possibly other like minded women she knew unfortunately this was not explored.

Really enjoyed this, now must read the other novel in this series. I would add this is a standalone and knowing a bit about pride and prejudice may help to understand the back story but can be read on its own merit. I received a copy via NetGalley and harpercollins so I thank them for giving me an advance read!